introduction

Have you got a nose for comedy?

Channel 4 has announced the winners of its new Comedy Writing Initiative 2005. The standard was so high that the judges took the decision to award an additional two entrants a joint-second prize. Team writers Helen Keen, 28, and Miriam Underhill 29, who are both currently working as office temps, won first prize. Second prize went to duo Henry White, 26, and Andy Siddons, 27, who run an animation production company together, and to Kevin Winch, 30, a paramedic.

The competition, launched in May, asked entrants to submit a three-minute topical monologue for a quintessential C4 show of their choice, and three non-topical sketches of no more than three minutes each in length. Since the initiative was announced, the supporting website had over 36,000 hits and over 1,500 entries were received.

The winners will now be given the opportunity to write for a range of Channel 4 comedy and entertainment shows. A £10,000 commission has been awarded to Helen and Miriam and a £5,000 commission each to Kevin Winch and writing team Henry White and Andy Siddons.